Facilitator Corner: Sophia Chakalo
Find out what Sophia Chakalo has learned from being a FIUTS facilitator, why she continues to volunteer and lead, and what she loves the most!
FIUTS Facilitators are student leaders from all over the world who welcome new international visitors, help organize events, and lead activities for hundreds of students each quarter. Read on to find out more about the FIUTS facilitator experience from Sophia Chakalo.
Name: Sophia Chakalo
Country: Bulgaria
Major: Biology-Physiology
Class: 2017
FIUTS Facilitator Since: Autumn 2014
Brief Introduction
My name is Sophia Chakalo and I come from a Bulgarian immigrant family. My parents and older brother emigrated to the U.S. in 1991 after years of trying to escape Bulgaria and fleeing to Greece. They moved across America looking for the best place to live and eventually found Seattle, where my sister and I were born. We moved a lot during my childhood and even spent a year in Montana. However, we found our way back to Washington and have been here ever since.
What does it mean to be a FIUTS facilitator?
To be a FIUTS facilitator is something that is so refreshing. It gives me the opportunity to connect with people from across the globe that I wouldn’t be able to meet in my daily life. It allows me to see the beauty of different cultures and the similarities that exist among them that show how everyone is so interconnected. It also gives me the chance to present my culture to elementary schools in the Seattle area which is such a rewarding experience because it allows them to learn about an unfamiliar country and it challenges me become a better speaker.
Favorite FIUTS anecdote as a facilitator
One of my favorite moments was probably during Global Ambassador Day last year. It was the first time I presented to a large class and for such a long period of time. I was incredibly nervous because I didn’t know whether the kids would be interested in learning about Bulgaria. However, once I began I was astonished by how many questions they were asking and how excited they were to participate in all the activities. The teacher even got involved and was actively participating with the kids. It is the moment that reassured me that being a FIUTS Facilitator is worth it.
Tips/comments for peer facilitators
Some advice I would give would be to make oneself uncomfortable and ask questions. If you are able to be curious and ask questions about what you don’t understand, rather than making assumptions, there is a lot you can learn about the world and yourself.
Sophia leading an activity with elementary school students and teaching them about Bulgarian culture!
Want to be a Global Ambassador like Sophia? Come to one of the upcoming information sessions (or contact tom@fiuts.org):
Monday April 18 | 3:00pm-4:00pm (HUB 238)
Friday April 22 | 11:00am-12:00pm (HUB 307)
Tuesday April 26 | 1:00pm-2:00pm (HUB 307)
Check out our past Facilitator Corners:
Bader Alfarhan, Peirce Kirkham, Alissa Mustre, Ang Li, Wedward Wei, Terry Jung, Hassan Almuzaini, Isabella Ning, Lucy Deng, Nhung Le, Abigail Lim, Ferris Maghi, Kevin Sander, Joey Liao, Anya Raj, Minhtu Nguyen, Jianyang (Jane) Zhang, Jialu Sun, Fleur Xuanlin Li, Saleh Alwabel, Clara Jiayao Lu, Le (Juliet) Huang,David Veth, Yili (Jacky) Chen, Jonathan Cheng, Fah Thamsuwan,Charlie Warner, Katherine Li, Nabil Sutjipto, Jeremy Sculley, Ani Antonyan, Jaisang Sun
Learn about our facilitator program here!